Inflatable Solar Light

• US 20120120642A1
• Filed: 06/17/2011
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Luminaid Lab, LLC
• Original Assignee: Luminaid Lab, LLC
• Inventors: Sreshta, Andrea Mary, Stork, Anna Ruth
• Application Number:
  US13/163,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20120120642A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/183
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/037 the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/007 with provision for shipment or storage
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/1005 of working places, building sites or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/40 Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

A solar rechargeable light is disclosed. In some embodiments, the solar light include the following: an expandable inner bladder including at least front and bottom surfaces; a solar rechargeable light assembly joined with the front surface of the inner bladder, the assembly including a thin-film photovoltaic, a battery charger in electrical communication with the thin-film photovoltaic, a rechargeable battery in electrical communication with the battery charger, and a light emitting diode in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery; and an expandable outer bladder configured to contain the inner bladder. The inner and outer bladders are substantially transparent, flexible, inflatable, and collapsible.

Claims

1. A solar rechargeable light, comprising:

an expandable inner bladder including a front surface;

a solar rechargeable light assembly joined with said front surface of said inner bladder; and

an expandable outer bladder configured to contain said inner bladder.

2. The light of claim 1, said assembly further comprising:

a photovoltaic panel;

a battery charger in electrical communication with said photovoltaic panel;

a rechargeable battery in electrical communication with said battery charger; and

a light emitting diode in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery.

3. The light of claim 1, wherein said inner bladder further comprises a valve through which said inner bladder is inflated or filled and deflated or emptied.

4. The light of claim 3, wherein said inner bladder is filled with one or more of a gas, liquid, and solid.

5. The light of claim 1, wherein one or more of said inner and outer bladders is fabricated from a frosted plastic material to promote diffusion of light from said light emitting diode.

6. The light of claim 1, wherein one or more of said inner and outer bladders includes one or more surfaces having a particular pattern configured to promote diffusion of light from said light emitting diode.

7. The light of claim 6, wherein said pattern includes a white background portion having a grid of transparent portions thereby defining an about thirty percent transparent white pattern.

8. The light of claim 1, wherein said outer bladder is sealable so that said light both floats and is substantially waterproof.

9. The light of claim 2, further comprising a power switch in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery and said light emitting diode, wherein said switch can be selectively controlled to both introduce and prevent the flow of electricity from said battery to said light emitting diode.

10. The light of claim 1, wherein in a first state, said inner bladder is substantially free of gas, liquids, and solids and said light is substantially collapsed and wherein in a second state, said inner bladder includes one or more of a gas, liquid, and solid and said light is substantially expanded.

11. The light of claim 2, wherein said assembly includes more than one light emitting diode in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery.

12. The light of claim 11, further comprising a power switch in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery and said light emitting diodes, wherein said switch can be configured to control an amount of light provided by said light.

13. A solar rechargeable light, comprising:

an expandable inner bladder including a front surface;

a solar rechargeable light assembly joined with said front surface of said inner bladder, said assembly including a thin-film photovoltaic, a battery charger in electrical communication with said thin-film photovoltaic, a rechargeable battery in electrical communication with said battery charger, and a light emitting diode in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery; and

an expandable outer bladder configured to contain said inner bladder;

wherein said inner and outer bladders are substantially transparent, flexible, inflatable, and collapsible.

14. The light of claim 13, wherein said inner bladder further comprises a valve through which said inner bladder is inflated or filled and deflated or emptied.

15. The light of claim 14, wherein said inner bladder is filled with one or more of a gas, liquid, and solid.

16. The light of claim 13, wherein said outer bladder includes one or more surfaces having a particular pattern configured to promote diffusion of light from said light emitting diode.

17. The light of claim 13, wherein in a first state, said inner bladder is substantially free of gas, liquids, and solids and said light is substantially collapsed and wherein in a second state, said inner bladder includes one or more of a gas, liquid, and solid and said light is substantially expanded.

18. The light of claim 13, wherein said assembly includes more than one light emitting diode in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery.

19. The light of claim 13, further comprising a power switch in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery and said light emitting diodes, wherein said switch can be configured to control an amount of light provided by said light.

20. The light of claim 13, wherein said outer bladder includes a bottom portion that has a flat bottom surface and a top portion defining a handle.